The black mist was no ordinary poison—it was the remnant will of a supremely powerful soul attacker. Had it been lodged in stone or steel, Xiao Jietian could have simply summoned Five Thunders Bombardment and erased it in a flash of annihilating light.
Yet here, lodged within a living soul, he was forced to wield the utmost restraint. One careless surge of power and the black mist would vanish… along with the woman's fragile soul body.
Fortunately, his tribulation lightning was no common flame. Even the proud Strange Fires of heaven paled beside it.
When Xun'er had visited Eternal Heaven World previously, Xiao Jietian had tested his three-colored lightning against her Golden Emperor Burning Heavenly Flame. The result? His lightning held a slight but undeniable edge.
And that was merely three-colored. Four-colored lightning multiplied its might several-fold; five-colored lightning soared dozens of times stronger—an apocalyptic force few in the Dou Qi Continent could withstand.
While Xiao Jietian concentrated on the delicate soul-cleansing, his two daughters moved with surprising maturity. They swept the cave clean, arranged simple furnishings, and set up layers of defensive formations and concealment arrays around the entrance—small spirit stones glowing faintly, illusory mists drifting like veils, ensuring no prying divine sense could easily penetrate.
Xiao Jietian's soul power guided the three-colored lightning like a surgeon's needle, patiently grinding away at the stubborn black mist. It clung like maggots to marrow, refusing to disperse until every last wisp had been scorched to nothingness.
Two hours passed.
Sweat finally gathered on Xiao Jietian's brow—fine beads born of intense, sustained soul control rather than physical exertion.
Xiao Meng nudged her sister and whispered, "Ling Ling, look! It's the first time I've ever seen Daddy sweat. Even when he fought all the mothers alone, he never broke a sweat."
Xiao Ling nodded solemnly. "Her injuries must be truly grave. Daddy is working so hard to save her… When she wakes up, she has to repay him properly. Otherwise it would be too unfair."
Xiao Meng's small face filled with heartache as she watched her father's focused profile.
Though his full attention appeared to be on the treatment, a thread of divine sense always remained wrapped protectively around his daughters. Between a stranger and his own flesh and blood, there could be no contest. If danger approached, he would abandon the treatment in an instant.
He naturally overheard their quiet exchange and felt a warm current rise in his chest.
These are my true little cotton-padded jackets—warm, soft, and utterly sincere. Not the black-hearted kind that only know how to stab.
A few minutes later, the final trace of black mist dissolved beneath the relentless lightning.
"Finally…" Xiao Jietian exhaled long and slow, wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve.
He retrieved another pill from his spatial ring—this one crystal-clear, radiating a gentle spiritual glow, as though an invisible immortal aura enveloped it.
He pinched the woman's delicate chin, preparing to feed her the medicine.
But the instant the pill brushed her lips, her unconscious body reacted. Perhaps her damaged soul instinctively sensed the supreme nourishment, for she tilted her head ever so slightly and closed her lips around both pill… and fingertip.
The soft, cool sensation enveloped his finger. A faint tremor ran along the tip of her tongue.
Xiao Jietian froze for a heartbeat.
He had weathered countless temptations in his long journey—yet this sudden, unwitting intimacy from a woman whose beauty and mature allure rivaled even Medusa and Han Yue caught him momentarily off-guard.
Then a word flashed through his mind: charm.
His gaze sharpened. He studied her features once more—phoenix eyes, vermilion lips, the subtle lines of experience at the corners of her eyes—and a suspicion that had lingered at the edge of consciousness suddenly crystallized.
Could it be… her?
The lingering cool dampness and faint, elegant fragrance on his fingertip pulled him back to the present.
He tried to withdraw discreetly.
But the woman—still lost in coma—seemed to sense the loss. Her teeth closed instinctively tighter, as though afraid the precious pill would slip away.
"…"
Xiao Jietian was helpless. He applied a fraction more force to her chin, gently but firmly coaxing her jaw open.
Her teeth finally parted. The pill slid smoothly down her throat.
He withdrew his finger—only to find it glistening faintly, carrying the subtle scent of orchid and snow.
Xiao Jietian stared at his own finger, then at the peacefully unconscious woman. The corner of his mouth twitched. With a wry expression he produced a silk handkerchief and meticulously wiped his hand clean.
By this time the two little girls had finished arranging the cave. Seeing their father apparently done, they rushed over.
Xiao Ling tugged his sleeve. "Daddy, is it finished?"
"Yes. No more problems."
"Then why isn't she awake yet?" Xiao Meng tilted her head curiously. "Is it still the soul?"
"Correct. Her soul suffered a direct attack, and residual killing intent lingered. Though the pill and my lightning have cleared the worst of it, full recovery will take time. She should awaken naturally after a while."
Xiao Jietian rubbed their heads affectionately.
"Now, you two help clean her body and change her into fresh clothes."
A brand-new azure long robe appeared in his palm—simple yet elegant, woven from Moon-Silk Heavenly Cloud Thread. He passed it to them.
"Alright, Daddy!" Xiao Meng nodded seriously. "We're cooking over there. Go take a look."
Xiao Jietian gave a soft hum of acknowledgment and turned away, leaving the task to his capable little assistants.
Behind him:
"These clothes are so hard to remove… it's like she's wearing armor!"
"Be gentle—what if the wounds aren't fully healed?"
"Don't worry, I just checked. Not even a scar remains. Everything's perfect."
"Wait—you could have said that earlier! Then why are we fumbling with clasps? Watch this—"
Riiip—
A crisp tearing sound echoed through the cave.
Xiao Jietian, standing some distance away with his back turned, felt black lines crawl across his forehead. He didn't need to look to know exactly what had happened.
Truly two little violent maniacs…
Another gasp of wonder followed:
"It's true! Not a single mark. You can't even tell she was ever injured. Daddy's pills are miraculous!"
...
Five minutes later, the two girls scampered back to his side, mission accomplished.
"Daddy, is the food ready? Ling Ling's stomach is about to stage a rebellion!"
Xiao Ling tugged his sleeve again, patting her flat little belly with an exaggerated pout of starvation.
"It's done. Come eat."
Though they had long since transcended the need for mortal sustenance, Xiao Jietian still insisted on proper meals for his daughters. And what they ate was no ordinary fare—spirit beast meat slow-cooked with dozens of precious medicinal herbs, each bite nourishing both body and foundation.
Satisfaction in the mouth, progress in the dantian. Cultivation, at its core, served two purposes: to safeguard one's life, and to savor ever greater pleasures of the flesh and spirit.
The three of them sat around the large steaming pot, devouring the fragrant medicinal feast.
"So full…" Xiao Ling leaned against her father's side, small hand rubbing her rounded belly. She looked up with bright eyes. "Daddy, how about roasted rabbit tomorrow?"
"How can we eat rabbits?!" Xiao Meng's eyes immediately widened in outrage. "They're so cute! Absolutely not!"
She glared fiercely at Xiao Jietian, as though daring him to agree with her sister.
In the quiet cave, father and daughters bickered softly over rabbits, while on the stone bed not far away, the mysterious beauty lay in deep slumber—her fate now quietly entwined with theirs, whether by chance, karma, or something far older and deeper still.